Robredo: Magalong’s accountability over Baguio party a ‘good example’ for public officials

Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong set a “good example” for other public officials when he held himself accountable for a controversial party that took place in the city earlier this month, Vice President Leni Robredo said Sunday.

“Obviously mayroong lapse, pero ang sa akin, bilib naman ako kay Mayor Magalong, na malakas iyong sense of accountability. Iyong sa akin nga, kung mayroon mang nagawang lapse, dapat ganito iyong response ng mga public officials na nalalagay sa ganitong sitwasyon,” she said in her weekly radio show.

Last week, Magalong admitted that COVID-19 health protocols were violated in a party hosted by events planner Tim Yap,

The mayor later tendered his resignation as the national government’s contact tracing czar. 

Malacañang rejected the resignation but Magalong said it was “irrevocable.” 

“Napakaganda noong kaniyang statement, na sinasabi niya na iyong mga opisyal na kagaya namin, parang iyong standard na hinihingi sa amin mas mataas. Ako, kapag ganito iyong ating mga public officials, iyong respeto ng tao sa institusyon mabu-boost,” Robredo said.

“Tingin ko, napakagandang example nito. Hindi natin sinasabing wala siyang lapse, kasi siya nga mismong nagsasabi na mayroon. Pero iyong response niya doon sa lapse na nagamit ay tingin ko ito iyong dapat,” she added.

Despite Yap's protestations that the event was not a party and that the videos of it that went viral did not show the whole story, he and each of his guests were fined—P1,500 each. 

In June last year, six jeepney drivers who were accused of violating health protocols were only released from detention after posting a P3,000 bail. 

The drivers, including a 72-year-old, had appealed for jeepneys to be allowed to resume operations amid the general community quarantine. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News